Cigar lighter



Dec. 1, 1936.

Filed June 6, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 0. FAIRLESS 2,062,703 GIG Dec. 1, 1936.

'0 FAIRLESS CIGAR LIGHTER Filed June 6, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oscar T 'r/es s v fiwoa 406).

Atto'rney Patented Dec. 1, 1936 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in cigar lighters and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of this character which will automatically light when lifted from the supporting surface upon which it may be resting.

Another very important object of the lIlVBl'l-r tion is to provide a cigar lighter of the aforementioned character which will automatically be extinguished when it is placed on a supporting surface.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a cigar lighter of the character described which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly efiicient and reliable in use, compact, light in weight, attractive in appearance and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:-

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a cigar lighter constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view in top plan of the device.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially on the line 44 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a detail view in plan of the switch closing member.

Figure 6 is a detail view in vertical section, taken substantially on the line 66 of Figure 3.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a substantially conical casing I of suitable material from the top of which a substantially cylindrical neck 2 rises. The neck 2 is closed at its upper end, as at 3. The reference numeral 4 designates the bottom of the casing I.

Mounted in the neck portion 2 of the casing I is a container 5 for the reception of a liquid fuel. A neck 6 projects upwardly from the container 5 through the top 3 of the casing I and mounted in said neck 6 is a wick which extends downwardly into the fuel in the container 5.

Mounted in the casing I is a coil 8 which is electrically connected to the container 5 as by a conductor wire 9. It may be well to here state that the container 5 is of current conducting material. Closely associated with the upper end of the container neck 6-is an electrode 56 which extends downwardlyinto the casing l and is connected with the coil 8 by a conductor wire II. This is illustrated to-advantage in Figure 3 of the drawings.

Mounted for vertical reciprocation in a guide I2 in the casing I is a plunger I3 which extends slidably through the bottom 4 of said casing I and has secured on its-lower end a rubber foot I4. The opening provided in the casing bottom 4 for the plunger I3 is substantially conical and the foot I4 is correspondingly shaped for engagement in said opening. An opening I5 is provided in the top portion of the neck 2 andoperable therein is an extinguisher I6 which is mounted for swinging movement in avertical plane. The extinguisher I6 includes a substantially concavo-convex head I! on its free end which is engageable' with the upper end of the wick l for extinguishing the flame. A link I8 connects the extinguisher I6 to the plunger I3 for actuation thereby.

The reference numeral I 9 designates conductor wires to the coil 8 from a suitable source of current supply. Interposed in the line to the coil 8 is a switch designated generally by the reference numeral 20. The switch 20 comprises a pair of normally spaced resilient contacts 2| which are mounted on the guide I2. Adjustably mounted on the upper end portion of the plunger I3 is a finger 22 which is adapted to close the contacts 2I. Encircling the lower portion of the plunger I3 is a coilspring 23 having one end engaged with the guide I2 and its other end engaged with a collar 24 on said plunger I3 for yieldingly urging said plunger downwardly.

It is thought that the operation of the device will be apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. When the lighter is resting on a support, the weight thereof maintains the plunger I3 in raised position against the tension of the coil spring 23, thus permitting the switch 20 to remain in its normallyopen position While the extinguisher I6 is engaged with the upper end of the wick 1. However, when the lighter is lifted from the supporting surface, as when it is desired to light a cigar, cigarette or pipe, the plunger I3 is moved downwardly by the spring 23 in a manner to raise the extinguisher I6 to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 3 of the drawings and simultaneously close the switch 20 through the medium of the finger 22. When the switch 20 is closed current flows through the coil 8 to the electrode I0 and jumps to the upper end of the neck 6 of the container 5, thus igniting the wick 1. When the device is replaced on the supporting surface the plunger [3 is again raised against the tension of the spring 23, thus permitting the switch 20 to open while at the same time swinging the extinguisher l6 downwardly to operative position for extinguishing the flame on the wick 1. It may be well to here state that the casing I and the guide l2 are of insulating material.

It is believed that the many advantages of a cigar lighter constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood, and although a preferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrange-- ment of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:-

1. A lighter of the class described comprising a casing having an opening in its bottom, a vertically arranged plunger slidably supported in the casing, with the lower end of the plunger passing through the opening, a spring tending to move the plunger downwardly to project the lower portion thereof through the opening when the easing is lifted from a support, a liquid fuel containing tank in the casing having a neck projecting through the top of said casing, a wick passing through the neck, with its major portion in the tank, an arm pivoted in the top of the casing and having an extinguisher part for engaging the upper end of the wick, when the arm is in lowered position, a link connecting the arm with the plunger for moving the arm to extinguishing position, when the plunger is in raised position, and swinging the arm upwardly and outwardly away from the wick when the plunger is in lowered position, igniting means for the upper end of the wick, an electric circuit for such means, including a switch, and means on the plunger and engageable with the switch for closing said switch when the plunger moves downwardly under the action of its spring, when the casing is lifted from the support.

2. A lighter of the class described comprising a casing having a fiat bottom for resting on a support, and said bottom having a hole therein, a vertically arranged plunger slidably supported in the casing and having its lower end located in the hole, a spring for projecting the lower part of; the plunger through the hole when the casing is lifted from a support, a tank containing liquid fuelin the upper part of the casing and provided with a neck passing through the top of the casing, a wick in the tank having its upper end passing through the neck, a curved arm having its lower end pivoted in the top of the casing, with its other end forming an extinguisher for engaging the upper end of the wick, when the arm is in lowered position, a link connected with the upper end of the plunger and with the lower end of the arm, outwardly of the pivotal point, whereby downward movement of the plunger will swing the arm away from the neck and upward movement of the plunger will swing the arm into engagement with the neck, an electrode passing through the top of the casing, with its extremity arranged adjacent the upper end of the neck, said casing being formed of non-conducting material, a circuit including the electrode and the tank, a switch in the circuit, and. means for closing the switch upon downward movement of the plunger, the switch being opened when the plunger is in raised position.

OSCAR FAIRLESS. 

